The first name Lance
A boy’s name.
Pronounced /læns/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
The surname is derived from a medieval given name Lanzo, short form of names beginning with the Germanic element *land; see land. Doublet of Lanzo.
Lance is a short form of
.From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 12 boys were named Lance, making it the 2,014th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2005, with 37 births (#691).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Lance with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Lance at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 279 boys born in the United States were named Lance, the 862nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1970, when 4,160 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Lance
51 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Lance ArmstrongCyclist from the United States, born 1971
- Lance StrollCanadian and Belgian racing driver, born 1998
- Lance HenriksenAmerican actor, born 1940
- Lance ReddickAmerican actor (1962–2023)
- Lance BassAmerican singer, dancer, actor, and film and television producer, born 1979
- Lance StephensonAmerican basketball player (born 1990)
- Lance BarberAmerican actor, born 1973
- Lance MacklinBritish racing driver, 1919–2002
- Lance HoytAmerican professional wrestler, born 1977
- Lance CadeAmerican professional wrestler (1980-2010)
- Lance StormCanadian professional wrestler, born 1969
- Lance LarsonAmerican swimmer, 1940–2024
Questions
- What does the name Lance mean?
- The surname is derived from a medieval given name Lanzo, short form of names beginning with the Germanic element *land; see land. Doublet of Lanzo.
- How popular is the name Lance?
- In 2025, 12 boys born in England and Wales were named Lance, ranking 2,014th. Its peak was 2005, with 37 births.
- Is Lance a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 106,184 US babies named Lance since 1880 were boys.
- When was Lance most popular?
- 1970 in the United States, when 4,160 babies were named Lance, its highest rank at 76th.
- How do you pronounce Lance?
- Lance is /læns/, one syllable.
- Is Lance also a surname?
- Yes. Lance is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.